JC-NRLF 


r> 


THllWRSK 


WItLIAMKfttRK 


\. 


THE  NORSK  NIGHTINGALE 


The  Norsk  Nightingale 


THE 
NORSK  NIGHTINGALE 

Being  the 
Lyrics  of  a  "  Lumberyack  " 

By 
WILLIAM  F.  KIRK 


Boston 

Small,  Maynard  &  Company 
1907 


Copyright,  1905,  by 

Small,  Maynard  &  Company 

(Incorporated) 


Published,  April,  1905 


Press  of 

Geo.  H.  Ellis  Co. 
Boston,  U.S.A. 


PREFACE 

It  is  with  a  certain  amount  of  misgiving 
that  the  author  sends  out  this  little  volume 
of  Scandinavian  dialect  verses.  To  the 
residents  of  Northern  Wisconsin  and  Min- 
nesota, where  the  "lumberyack"  lives  and 
thrives,  the  dialect  will  seem  familiar  enough  ; 
but  to  other  readers  such  terms  as  "  skol" 
(shall  or  will),  ((ban"  (been),  " panga" 
(money),  "sum"  (than  or  as),  may  convey 
little  or  no  meaning. 

But,  if  the  Scandinavian  dialect  verses  are 
not  widely  popular,  they  are  at  least  com- 
paratively fresh  and  original;  and  to  those 
readers  who  can  readily  grasp  the  patois, 
as  well  as  to  those  who  are  compelled  to 
struggle  painfully  through  its  labyrinths, 
this  volume  is  respectfully  dedicated. 


R231.42 


CONTENTS 
THE  NORSK  NIGHTINGALE 

HIS   LYRICS 

PAGE 

"Yim" 3 

Tillie  Olson 4 

The"  Lumberjack "        6 

Little  Steena  Yohnson 8 

Olaf 9 

"YennieDear" 11 

"Peek-a-Boo"        13 

Sonnet  on  Stewed  Prunes 14 

A  Good  Fellow 15 

"It's  Up  to  You" 17 

HIS   HISTORICAL  TALES 

Horatius  at  the  Bridge 21 

William  Tell 24 

The  Courtship  of  Miles  Standish      .     .  26 

Robinson  Crusoe 28 

George  Washington 30 

Paul  Revere 32 

Waterloo 34 

Barbara  Frietchie .  36 

Sheridan's  Ride 38 

vii 


CONTENTS 


HIS   POETICAL  TRANSLATIONS 

PAGE 

Speak  Gently 43 

The  Barefoot  Boy 44 

Father  William 46 

Abou  Swen  Anson 48 

Maud  Muller 49 

Lucy  Gray 51 

Stealing  a  Ride 53 

" Curfew  shall  not  Ring  To-night"  .     .  55 

A  Psalm  of  Life .  58 

Annie  Laurie 60 

The  Charge  of  the  Light  Brigade  ...  61 

Excelsior 63 

Mortality 64 

The  Day  is  Done 65 


Vlll 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 
HIS    LYRICS 


"YIM" 

Dar  ban  a  little  faller, 

Ay  tenk  his  name  ban  Yim, 
And  nearly  every  morning 

Ay  used  to  seeing  him. 
He  used  to  stand  in  gatevay, 

And  call  me  Svede,  and  ay 
Ant  lak  to  hear  dis  nickname: 

Ay  ban  a  Norsk,  yu  say. 

But  he  ban  little  faller, 

Ay  tenk  'bout  sax  years  old, 
And  so  ay  used  to  lak  him — 

He  ban  too  small  to  scold. 
Ay  used  to  say,  "Val,  Yimmie, 

Ay  ant  ban  Svede,  but  yu 
Can  call  me  Svede, — ay  lak  yu 

And  ant  care  vat  yu  du." 

By  Yeorge!    Ay'm  glad,  ay  tal  yu, 

Dat  ay  ban  gude  to  him, 
Because  one  venter  morning 

Ay  ant  see  little  Yim. 
And  next  day  funeral  vagon 

Com  driving  op  to  door, 
And  Yim,  poor  little  faller, 

Can't  call  me  Svede  no  more! 
3 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

TILLIE    OLSON 

Little  Tillie  Olson 

Ban  my  little  pearl; 
God  ant  never  making 

Any  nicer  girl. 
Dis  bar  Qveen  of  Sheba, 

She  ban  nice  to  see; 
But  little  Tillie  Olson, 

Ban  gude  enuff  for  me. 

Ay  ban  yust  a  svamper 

Vorking  op  in  voods; 
Ay  ant  ever  having 

Much  of  dis  vorld's  goods. 
Ay  know  lots  of  ladies 

Var  ay  used  to  be, 
But  little  Tillie  Olson 

Ban  gude  enuff  for  me. 

Over  in  Chicago 

'Bout  sax  veeks  ago, 
Torger  Yohnson  tak  me 

Out  to  see  nice  show. 
Chorus  girls  ban  dancing 

Purty  fine,  by  yee; 
But  little  Tillie  Olson 

Ban  gude  enuff  for  me. 
4 


HIS    LYRICS 


Ven  ve  sit  by  fireplace 

Op  at  Tillie's  house, 
She  ban  cuddling  near  me, 

Yust  lak  little  mouse. 
After  ve  ban  married, 

Happy  ve  skol  be. 
Yas,  little  Tillie  Olson 

Ban  gude  enuff  for  me. 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

THE  "LUMBERYACK" 

"Roll  out!"  yell  cookee. 
"  It  ban  morning,"  say  he, 

"  It  ban  daylight  in  s vamps,  all  yu  guys ! " 
So  out  of  varm  bunk 
Ve  skol  falling  kerplunk, 

And  rubbing  lak  blazes  our  eyes. 
Breakfast,  den  hustle;  dinner,  den  yump! 
Lumberyack  faller  ban  yolly  big  chump. 

"Eat  qvick!"  say  the  cook. 
"Oder  fallers  skol  look 

For  chance  to  get  grub  yust  lak  yu ! " 
So  under  our  yeans 
Ve  pack  planty  beans, 

And  Yim  dandy  buckvheat  cakes,  tu. 
Den  out  on  the  skidvay,  vorking  lak  mule. 
Lumberyack  faller  ban  yolly  big  fule 

"  Vatch  out ! "  foreman  say. 
Den  tree  fall  yure  vay, 

And  missing  yure  head  'bout  an  inch. 
Ef  timber  ban  green, 
Ve  skol  rub  kerosene 

On  places  var  cross  cut  skol  pinch. 
Sawing  and  chopping,  freeze  and  den  sveat. 
Lumberyack  faller  ban  yackass,  yu  bet. 
6 


The  "  Lumberyack" 


HIS    LYRICS 


Ven  long  com  the  spring, 
Ve  drenk  and  ve  sing; 

And  calling  town  faller  gude  frend, 
He  help  us  to  blow 
Our  whole  venter's  dough, 

But  ant  got  no  panga  to  lend. 
Drenk  and  headache,  headache  and  drenk. 
Lumberyack  faller  ban  sucker,  ay  tenk. 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

LITTLE   STEENA   YOHNSON 

Ay  ban  tenking  lots  of  yu, 

Little  Steena  Yohnson, 
Ay  ban  sure  yu  love  me  true, 

Little  Steena  Yohnson. 
Oder  geezers  lak  to  play 
In  yure  yard,  but  yu  skol  say, 
"Ay  don't  lak  yu  fallers,  nay!" 

Little  Steena  Yohnson. 

Some  day  yu  skol  be  my  vife, 

Little  Steena  Yohnson: 
Ay  ban  glad,  yu  bet  yure  life, 

Little  Steena  Yohnson. 
Ay  ban  vork  lak  nigger,  tu, 
Yumping  'round  vith  treshing  crew; 
Ay  skol  building  home  for  yu, 

Little  Steena  Yohnson. 

Maybe  ve  skol  saving  dough, 

Little  Steena  Yohnson; 
Back  to  Norvay  ve  skol  go, 

Little  Steena  Yohnson — 
Back  var  dis  har  midnight  sun 
Shining  lak  a  son  of  a  gun; 
Ant  yu  tenk  dis  har  ban  fun, 

Little  Steena  Yohnson? 
8 


HIS    LYRICS 


OLAF 

Yust  two  years  ago  last  venter 

Ay  meet  Olaf  op  in  camp; 
Ve  ban  lumberyacks  togedder. 

Every  morning  ve  skol  tramp 
'Bout  sax  miles  yust  after  breakfast 

Till  ve  come  to  big  pine-trees; 
Den  our  straw  boss  he  skol  make  us 

Vork  lak  little  busy  bees. 

Olaf,  he  ban  yolly  faller, 

He  skol  taling  yoke  all  day; 
Sometimes  he  sing  dis  bar  ragtime, 

Yust  to  passing  time  avay. 
And  at  night,  ven  ve  ban  smoking 

After  supper,  he  skol  make 
All  us  lumberyacks  to  laughing 

Till  our  belts  skol  nearly  break. 

Me  and  Olaf  bunked  together, 

And  sometimes  he  taling  me 
'Bout  his  vife  and  little  Torger, 

Who  ban  living  cross  big  sea. 
"Ay  ban  saving  dough,"  say  Olaf; 

"And  next  summer,  ef  ay  can, 
Ay  skol  send  for  vife  and  baby; 

Den  ay  ban  a  happy  man ! " 
9 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

One  night  Olaf  getting  letter 

Ven  ve  coming  back  to  camp; 
He  yust  tal  me,  "Little  Torger," 

And  his  eyes  ban  gude  and  damp. 
Dis  ban  how  ay  know  vy  Olaf 

Never  taling  no  more  yoke, — 
Vy  he  yust  sit  down  at  night-time, 

Close  by  me,  var  he  skol  smoke. 


10 


Olaf 


HIS    LYRICS 


"YENNIE    DEAR" 

Vy  yu  mak  my  heart  to  yump, 

Yennie  dear? 
Ay  ban  yust  a  fulish  chump, 

Yennie  dear. 

Yu  ban  sveet  lak  summer  rose, 
Lak  a  qveen  from  head  to  toes. 
Ay  ant  fit  for  you,  ay  s'pose, 

Yennie  dear. 

Yu  ban  gude  the  whole  day  long, 

Yennie  dear; 
Yu  ant  never  du  no  wrong, 

Yennie  dear. 

Ay  ban  tuff  old  lumberyack, 
Taking  drenk  yust  ven  ay  lak, 
Getting  slugged  and  slugging  back, 

Yennie  dear. 

But  ven  ay  ban  tenk  of  yu, 

Yennie  dear, 
Ay  ban  all  made  over  new, 

Yennie  dear, 
Ef  ay  have  yu  at  my  side, 
Ef  yu  ban  my  little  bride, 
Ay  skol  let  dese  fallers  slide, 

Yennie  dear. 
11 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

Oh,  ay  need  yu  in  my  life, 

Yennie  dear; 
Ef  ay  have  an  anyel  vife, 

Yennie   dear, 
Maybe  ay  can  learn  to  be 
Part  lak  anyel,  tu,  yu  see; 
But  it  ban  big  yob  for  me, 

Yennie  dear. 


HIS    LYRICS 


"PEEK-A-BOO" 

"Peek-a-boo!"  say  little  Olaf, 

"  Yu  can't  find  me.     Ay  ban  hid/' 
Den  ay  used  to  look  all  over 

For  my  little  blue-eyed  kid. 
Op  in  attic,  down  in  cellar, 

Back  of  chairs  on  parlor  floor  ; 
Den  he  used  to  laugh,  and  tal  me, 

"Ay  ban  back  of  kitchen  door." 

"Peek-a-boo!"   he  used  to  tal  me. 

"  Shut  yure  eyes,  and  don't  you  peek ! " 
Den  ay  feel  his  arms  around  me 

And  his  kisses  on  my  cheek. 
"Now  ay'm  hiding,  dad,"  he  tal  me! 

"Maybe,  ef  you  look  some  more, 
Yu  skol  find  yure  little  Olaf — 

Ay  ban  back  of  kitchen  door." 

"Peek-a-boo!"  ay  hear  him  calling,, 

Lak  he  called  long  time  ago. 
Var  ban  little  Olaf  hiding  ? 

Maybe  anyel  fallers  know. 
Tousand  times  ay  look  to  find  him 

Hiding  back  of  kitchen  door, 
But  ay  only  see  some  shadows: 

Ay  can't  find  him  any  more. 
13 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

SONNET   ON    STEWED    PRUNES 

Ay  ant  lak  pie-plant  pie  so  wery  veil; 
Ven  ay  skol  eat  ice-cream,  my  yaws  du  ache; 
Ay  ant  much  stuck  on  dis  har  yohnnie-cake 
Or  crackers  yust  so  dry  sum  peanut  shell. 
And  ven  ay  eat  dried  apples,  ay  skol  svell 
Until  ay  tenk  my  belt  skol  nearly  break; 
And  dis  har  breakfast  food,  ay  tenk,  ban  fake : 
Yim  Dumps  ban  boosting  it,  so  it  skol  sell. 
But  ay  tal  yu,  ef  yu  vant  someteng  fine, 
Someteng  so  sveet  lak  wery  sveetest  honey, 
Vith  yuice  dat  taste  about  lak  nice  port  vine, 
Only  it  ant  cost  hardly  any  money, — 
Ef  yu  vant  someteng  yust  lak  anyel  fude, 
Yu  try  stewed  prunes.  By  yiminy !  dey  ban  gude. 


14 


HIS    LYRICS 


A  GOOD  FELLOW 

Dey  tal  me  ay  ban  a  gude  faller. 

Ay  guess  dey  ban  right;  but,  yee  whiz! 
Ef  yu  ever  ban  a  gude  faller, 

Yu  know  'bout  how  costly  it  is. 
Ay  vork  op  in  voods  since  Nowember, 

And  ban  op  on  drive  all  the  spring, 
And  den  ay  com  down  bar  in  city 

And  vatch  all  my  riches  tak  ving. 

Oh,  yes,  ay  ban  yolly  gude  faller, — 

All  venter  ay  eat  pork  and  beans; 
Ay  only  ban  har  since  last  Monday, 

Now  ay  ant  got  cent  in  my  yeans. 
Dese  geezers  dat  call  me  "  Old  Stocking,'1 

And  pat  me  lak  hal  on  the  back, 
Skol  give  me  gude  snub  'bout  to-morrow, 

And  calling  me  "slob  lumberyack!" 

Ay  meet  bunch  of  fallers  last  Monday, 

Yust  after  ay  cashing  my  check; 
Ay  s'pose  dat  ay  have  it  all  coming. 

Val,  ay  getting  it  gude,  right  in  neck. 
Ay  meet  little  blonde,  her  name's  Yulia, 

Ay  tenk  dis  har  Yulia  ban  Yew; 
She  touch  me  for  'bout  saxty  dollars, 

And  little  gold  watch  ay  have,  tu. 
15 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

But  Yulia  she  call  me  gude  faller, 

Ay  s'pose  she  tenk  dat  vill  help  some; 
And  all  of  dem  call  me  gude  faller, 

And  helping  to  put  me  on  bum. 
Val,  back  to  the  pines,  Maester  Olaf, 

And  driving  yure  old  team  of  mules. 
Put  dis  in  yure  pipe,  tu,  and  smoke  it: 

Gude  fallers  ban  mostly  dam  fules. 


16 


HIS    LYRICS 


"IT'S   UP    TO    YOU" 

Ay  s'pose  yu  tenk  life  ban  hard  game. 

Ay  guess  yu  lak  to  qvit,  perhaps. 
Ay  hear  yu  say,  "  It  ban  a  shame 

To  see  so  many  lucky  chaps." 

Yu  say,  "  Dese  guys  ban  mostly  yaps : 
Ay  vish  ay  had  some  money,  tu, 

And  not  get  all  dese  gude  hard  raps." 
Val,  Maester,  it  ban  op  to  yu. 

Sometimes  ay  s'pose  yu  vork  long  hours, 

And  ant  get  wery  fancy  pay; 
Den  yu  can't  buying  stacks  of  flowers 

And  feed  yure  girl  in  gude  cafe, 

And  drenk  yin  rickies  and  frappe. 
Oh,  yes !  dis  mak  yu  purty  blue. 

Yu  lak  to  have  more  fun,  yu  say? 
Val,  Maester,  it  ban  op  to  yu. 

Dis  vorld  ant  got  much  room  to  spare 

For  men  vich  make  dis  hard-luck  cry,  — 
'Bout  von  square  foot  vile  dey  ban  har, 

And  six  feet  after  dey  skol  die. 

Time  "  fugit,"— high-school  vord  for  "  fly  " ; 
And  purty  sune  yure  chance  ban  tru. 

So,  ef  yu  lak  to  stack  chips  high, 
Val,  Maester,  it  ban  op  to  yu. 
17 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 
HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

7-i 


HORATIUS   AT  THE   BRIDGE 

Horatius  ban  brave  yentleman, 

Who  vatch  big  bridge  at  night: 
It  ban  gude  many  years  ago, 

Ay  ant  got  date  yust  right. 
Dar  ban  some  foxy  geezers 

Who  march  avay  from  home, 
And  tenk  they  having  qvite  gude  chance 

To  raise  some  hal  in  Rome. 

Lars  Porsena  ban  starting  it, — 

Ay  tenk  Lars  ban  a  Svede; 
He  raise  'bout  tousand  soldiers, 

And  put  himself  in  lead. 
Then  he  began  tu  marching, 

And  all  his  frends  march,  tu, 
Till  they  skol  come  almost  to  Rome, 

Var  dey  skol  rest  a  few. 

Then  op  spake  Maester  Horatius, 

Captain  of  dis  har  gate : 
"  To  every  yackass  on  dis  earth 

Death  coming  sune  or  late. 
So  how  can  ay  die  better 

Than  vatching  bridge,  yu  say? 
Now  who  skol  standing  on  my  front 

And  vatching  bridge  vith  me  ?  " 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

Then  Maester  Laertus  Larson, 

A  scrapper  fine  ban  he, 
Say,  "Ay  skol  standing  on  yure  back, 

But  not  on  front,  by  yee!" 
And  old  Herminius  Hermanson — 

He  ban  gude  fighter,  tu, 

Say,  "Ay  skol  taking  little  smash 
At  dese  har  Svedes  vith  yu!" 

So  ven  dis  Maester  Porsena 

Ban  come  to  big  bridge  gate, 
He  sees  three  husky  lumberyacks, 

And  know  he  come  tu  late. 
But  Lars,  he  ant  ban  qvitter, 

He  send  'bout  saxteen  men 
To  taking  bridge, — by  yiminy, 

Dey  ant  come  back  again! 

While  old  Horatius  and  his  frends 

Ban  vatching  bridge  so  gude, 
Some  aldermen  on  oder  shore 

Ban  sawing  planty  vood. 
Ay  tal  yu,  ven  dese  boodlers 

Ban  start  to  tear  tengs  down, 
Dar  ant  no  better  vorkers 

Novere  in  whole  dam  town. 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

So  ven  dis  bridge  start  falling, 

Horatius'  f rends  yump  back; 
And  he  skol  stand  alone  dar — 

He  ban  brave  lumberyack. 
Then  he  yump  into  Tiber, 

And  say,  "Ay  skol  svim  home!" 
Dis  har  ban  how  Horatius 

Skol  turn  gude  trick  for  Rome0 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

WILLIAM   TELL 

Dar  ban  a  man  named  Villiam  Tell 

Who  ban  a  qvite  gude  shot. 
Ay  bet  yu,  ven  he  tak  nice  aim, 

He  alvays  hit  the  spot. 
Ay  s'pose  he  hunting  every  day 

And  killing  lots  of  game; 
Ef  he  ban  missing  such  a  chance, 

Ay  tenk  it  ban  a  shame. 

Some  fallers  yump  on  him  von  day, 

And  taking  him  to  yail, 
And  tal  him  he  skol  have  to  pay 

Sax  tousand  dollars'  bail. 
"Yeewhiz!"  say  Tell.  "Sax  tousand  bones! 

Ay  ant  got  saxty  cents ! " 
And  so  dey  mak  him  breaking  stones 

Behind  big  iron  fence. 

Den  Olaf  Gessler  say  to  him: 

"  Bill,  yu  ban  qvite  gude  shot, 
So  ay  skol  give  yu  yust  von  chance 

To  vinning  nice  yack  pot. 
Yure  son  ban  purty  brave  young  kid; 

Ay  tell  yu,  on  the  dead, 
Yu  skol  go  free  ef  you  can  shoot 

Dis  apple  off  his  head." 
24 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

"  Yerusalem ! "  say  Bill,  "  ef  you 

Skol  give  me  drenk  of  bock, 
Ay  bet  yu  ay  can  shoot  dis  fruit 

Off  little  Yimmie's  block; 
But,  ef  ay  shoot  tu  low,  val,  den 

Yust  sidestep  qvick,  by  heck, 
Or  yu  skol  finding  little  bunch 

Of  arrows  in  yure  neck ! " 

So  Olaf  frame  it  op  for  Bill, 

And  Bill  he  tak  gude  aim, 
And  shoot  at  little  Yimmie's  block,— 

Ay  tal  yu,  he  ban  game. 
And  Bill  skol  knocking  apple  off, 

And  Yim  vent  back  to  school; 
But  Olaf  put  Bill  back  in  yail, 

And  tal  him,  "April  fool!" 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

THE   COURTSHIP  OF  MILES 
STANDISH 

Miles  Standish  ban  having  a  courtship 

Ven  all  of  his  fighting  ban  tru; 
Maester  Longfaller  tal  me  about  it, 

And  so  ay  skol  tal  it  to  yu. 
He  say  to  his  room-mate,  Yohn  Alden: 

"  Yu  know  dis  Priscilla,  ay  s'pose. 
Last  veek,  ven  ay  try  to  get  busy, 

Priscilla  yust  turn  op  her  nose." 

Yohn  Alden  ban  nervy  young  faller. 

So  Standish  yust  tal  him:  "Old  pal, 
Pleese  boost  me  to  dis  har  Priscilla, 

Yu  know  ay  can't  talk  wery  val. 
Pleese  tal  her  ay  ban  a  gude  soldier, 

And  say  ay  have  money  in  bank. 
Ay'd  du  dis  myself,  but,  ay  tal  yu, 

My  manners  in  parlor  ban  rank.'9 

So  Yohn  go  and  call  on  Priscilla, 

And  happen  to  finding  her  in; 
He  sit  close  beside  her  on  s6fa, 

And  give  her  gude  lots  of  his  chin. 
"  Miles  Standish,"  he  say,  "  ban  gude  faller, 

Hot  stuff  vith  his  pistol  and  knife; 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

And  so  ay  ban  coming  to  tal  yu 
He'd  lak  yu,  Priscilla,  for  vife." 

Priscilla,  she  listen  to  Alden, 

And  den  give  him  cute  little  venk, 
And  say:  "  Vy  not  speak  for  yureself,  Yohn  ? 

Miles  Stan  dish  ban  lobster,  ay  tenk." 
So  Standish  get  double  crossed  planty; 

And  dat's  yust  vat  AY  vant,  by  yee, 
Ef  ever  ay  get  any  faller 

To  doing  my  sparking  for  me! 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

ROBINSON    CRUSOE 

Maester  Robinson  Crusoe  ban  lonely  old 

faller 

Who  ban  on  an  island  glide  long  time  ago ; 
His  friends  all  ban  lost  in  a  yolly  big  ship- 
wreck; 

But  Robinson  alvays  ban  lucky,  yu  know. 
He  get  on  dis  island,  and  can't  get  avay. 
"  By  yiminy,"  say  Crusoe,  "  ay  tenk  ay  skol 
stay!" 

Von  day  some  cannibals  com  to  dis  island, 
And  brenging  some   frends  just  to  make 

little  stew. 
Dese  frends  dey  ant  lak  to  be  made  into 

cooking, 

And  von  faller  dodge  dis  har  cannibal  crew. 
His  name  it  ban  Friday.     He  ban  a  gude 

coon, 

And  Crusoe  and  he  start  to  eat  from  same 
spoon. 

Dey  have  lots  of  fun  on  dis  har  desert  island, 

Dey  play  seven  up  and  casino,  ay  tenk; 
And  Crusoe  put  on  a  nice  bar-tender's  apron, 
And  taught  Maester  Friday  to  mix  a  gude 
drenk. 

28 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

Dey  get  kind  o'  used  to  dis  old  desert  isle, 
And  get  'long  togedder  qvite  gude  for  a  vile. 

But  Friday  ban  coon,  and  yu  know  dese  coon 

fallers 
Ban  looking  for  tips  yust  so  sharp  sum  dey 

can. 

So  Friday  yust  tal  Maester  Robinson  Crusoe, 
"  Ay  tenk,  Maester  Crusoe,  yu  ban  a  cheap 

man." 
Den  he  yump  into  ocean,  and  svim  yust  lak 

hal, 
And  Robinson  Crusoe  ban  losing  his  pal. 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON 

Yeorge  Vashington  ban  honest  man. 
Ven  dis  bar  country  first  began, 
Yeorge  ban  a  yen'ral,  and  yu  bet 
Dese  English  fallers  know  it  yet. 
Ven  he  ban  small,  his  fader  say, 
"  Ef  yu  skol  breng  in  vood  to-day, 
And  feeding  cow  and  chickens,  tu, 
Ay  skol  yust  blow  myself  on  yu." 

Val,  sure  enuff,  ven  Yeorge  du  chore, 
His  fader  hike  for  hardvare  store, 
And  buy  gude  hatchet,  only  it 
Ban  second-hand  a  little  bit. 
Dar  ban  on  edge  some  little  dents, 
It  ban  marked  down  to  saxty  cents. 
He  pay  sax  cents  to  sharpen  axe, 
And  so  it  cost  him  saxty-sax. 
He  tak  it  home  to  Yeorgie,  tu, 
And  say,  "Ay  ant  ban  fuling  you." 

Next  day  Yeorge  tak  dis  hatchet  out, 
And  start  to  rubber  all  about 
For  someteng  he  can  chop,  yu  see, 
And  den  he  pipe  nice  cherry-tree. 
"By  Yudas!     Dis  ban  soft!"  say  he. 
"  Ef  dis  bar  axe  ban  any  gude, 
30 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

Dis  tree  skol  sune  ban  kindling  vood." 
So  Yeorge  give  cherry-tree  gude  whack, 
And  sveng  dis  axe  lak  lumberyack; 
And  yust  ven  tree  ban  falling  down, 
His  fader  coming  back  from  town. 
Yeorge  see  old  yent  ban  standing  dar, 
Smoking  gude  fifteen-cent  cigar; 
And  so  he  say:  "  Val,  holy  yee! 
Ay  guess  the  yig  ban  op  vith  me. 
Dear  fader,  AY  chopped  down  dis  tree! " 

Dar  ban  gude  moral  har  for  youth: 
Ven  lie  ban  fulish,  tal  the  truth! 


31 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

PAUL   REVERE 

Listen,  Christina,  and  yu  skol  hear 
'Bout  midnight  ride  of  Paul  Revere. 
Seventeen  hundred  seventy-five,   • 
Hardly  a  geezer  ban  now  alive 
Who  live  har  ven  Paul  ban  wolunteer. 

Some  British  fallers  ban  getting  gay, 
So  Paul  yust  giving  his  horse  some  hay 
And  say, "  Ay  skol  mak  a  grand-stand  play ! " 
Den  he  tal  Yohn  Brenk, — Yohn  ban  his  frend 
Who  borrow  venever  Paul  skol  lend, — 
"Yohn,  yust  go  up  har  in  old  church  tower, 
And,  yust  so  sune  sum  yu  find  out  hour 
British  skol  march,  give  me  good  yal, 
And  ay  skol  hustle  and  ride  lak  hal!" 

So  op  in  the  church  go  old  Yohn  Brenk, — 
It  ban  first  time  in  his  life,  ay  tenk; 
And,  ven  dese  English  get  busy,  he  yal, 
And  vave  big  lantern  to  his  gude  pal, 
Maester  Paul  Revere,  who  yump  on  mare, 
And  off  for  Lexington  he  skol  tear. 
"Yee  whiz!"  he  say,  "after  dis,  ay  guess, 
Ay  skol  getting  my  picture  in  Success. 
Dey  skol  tenk  ay'm  smart  old  son  of  a  gun 
Ven  I  gallop  into  Lexington!" 
32 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

Val,  he  mak  dis  ride,  yu  bet  yure  life! 
And  fallers  grab  gun  and  drum  and  fife, 
And  march  to  scrap  vith  dese  British  men. 
Maester  Paul  ban  yolly  brave  hero  den. 
And  back  in  the  church  tower  old  Yohn  Brenk 
Climb  from  his  perch,  and  tak  gude  drenk. 
Val,  dis  ban  all,  Christina  dear, 
'Bout  midnight  ride  of  Paul  Revere. 


33 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

WATERLOO 

At  Vaterloo  dar  ban  a  scrap 

Glide  many  year  ago. 
Napolyun,  he  ban  brave  old  chap 

And  boss  of  whole  French  show. 
And  Maester  Vellington,  he  say, 

"Ay  skol  mak  gude  defence, 
And  make  dis  Bonypart  and  Ney 

To  look  lak  saxty  cents." 

Dey  start  to  fight  on  Sunday  morn; 

And  preacher  say  to  Nap: 
"Now,  yust  so  sure  sum  yu  ban  born, 

Yu're  going  to  fall  in  trap. 
Ef  yu  got  any  vork  to  du, 

Yust  chuse  some  oder  day." 
But  Nap  say,  "  To  the  voods  vith  yu ! 

Mak  dis  har  bugle  play!" 

Ven  Maester  Vellington  vake  op, 

He  see  a  gude  big  hill, 
Vith  plenty  soldier  men  on  top, — 

Ay  bet  he  got  gude  chill. 
"  Yerusalem ! "  he  tal  his  men, 

"Dese  French  ban  purty  t'ick. 
Ay  tenk  by  qvarter  after  ten 

Dey  skol  feel  gude  and  sick." 
34 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

Den  Yen'ral  Blucher  com  along, 

And  loading  op  his  gun; 
And  dis  mak  tengs  look  purty  strong 

For  Maester  Vellington. 
Two  heads  ban  more  sum  von,  yu  see; 

And  Vellington,  he  say, 
"  Yust  keep  yure  Yerman  gang  vith  me, 

And  ve  skol  vinning  day." 

Den  all  his  English  soldiers  scrap 

Vith  guns  so  big  sum  trees; 
And  Yermans  fight  vith  lager  tap 

And  planty  Brickstein  cheese. 
And  so,  betveen  the  two,  dey  chase 

Dese  Frenchmen  to  tall  pines; 
And  old  Napolyun  hide  his  face, 

And  yumping  back  to  mines. 

Napolyun,  he  feels  purty  bum; 

And  after  vile  he  say, 
"Ef  Maester  Grouchy  only  com, 

Ve  could  have  von  to-day." 
But  Grouchy  ban  asleep  at  svitch, 

So  vat  could  Frenchman  du? 
Dis  har  ban  all  the  history  vich 

Ay  know  'bout  Vaterloo. 


35 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

BARBARA   FRIETCHIE 

Barbara  Frietchie  ban  brave  old  hen, 
Her  age  it  ban  tree  score  and  ten. 
She  living  in  Frederick,  Maryland, — 
It  ban  yust  a  dinky  von  night  stand. 
But  Barbara  rise  to  fame,  yu  bet, 
And  folks  ban  talking  about  her  yet. 
Ef  yu  lak  to  know  yust  how  dis  ban, 
Ay  skol  tal  yu  story  the  best  ay  can. 

Op  the  street  com  Yen-ral  Yackson, 
Ay  bet  yu  he  ban  a  gude  attraction; 
For  all  dese  Reubs  skol  rubber  lak  hal, 
And  some  of  dem  calling  the  yen'ral  "  pal." 
Yackson,  he  see  dem  on  both  sides 
Shooting  dis  bunk  to  save  deir  hides. 
Den  op  in  vindow  he  see  big  flag, 
And  tenk  at  first  he  must  have  a  yag. 
No:  sure  enuff,  it  ban  Union  Yack. 
So  Stonevall  stand  on  his  horse's  back, 
Yell  at  his  men.     Dey  shoot,  von  and  all, 
And  into  the  gutter  flag  skol  fall. 

Den  Barbara  get  pretty  mad,  yu  bet, 
And  say,  "Ay  skol  fule  dese  geezers  yet." 
She  run  to  her  bureau  double  haste, 
And,  yerking  out  dandy  peek-a-boo  waist, 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

Nail  it  to  flagstaff,  and  vave  it  hard, 

And  say:  "Dis  skol  hold  yu  avile,  old  pard. 

Shoot,  ef  yu  must,  dis  peek-a-boo, 

Ef  it  ant  qvite  holy  enough  for  yu, 

And  tak  gude  aim  at  dis  old  gray  head, 

But  spare  yure  country's  flag!"  she  said. 

Den  Stonevall  Yackson  look  purty  cheap, 
And  all  his  soldiers  feel  yust  lak  sheep. 
He  say:  "Dis  lady  skol  standing  pat. 
She  ban  game  old  party,  ay  tal  yu  dat. 
Who  taking  a  shot  at  yon  gray  hair 
Skol  get  gude  ticket  for  Golden  Stair!" 

All  day  long  in  Frederick  town 

Soldiers  ban  marching  op  and  down. 

And  late  dat  night,  ven  dey  leave  on  Soo, 

Dey  see  dis  fluttering  peek-a-boo. 

And  Stonevall  Yackson  say, "  Vat  yu  tenk ! " 

And  yerk  out  bottle  and  tak  gude  drenk. 


37 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

SHERIDAN'S   RIDE 

Ef  yu  ban  vise,  and  ay  s'pose  yu  ban, 
Yu  know  'bout  Yeneral  Sheridan; 
But  maybe  yu  ant  remember  the  day 
Ven  he  yump  on  horse,  and  den  he  say, 
"  Ay'm  yust  about  tventy-sax  miles  avay." 

Some  rebel  fallers  ban  start  big  row 
In  Vinchester.     Ay  ant  know  yust  how, 
But  ay  tenk  dey  yump  on  some  Yankee  guys, 
And  trying  to  give  dem  gude  black  eyes. 
So  Yeneral  Sheridan  hear  dese  guns, 
And  drank  some  coffee  and  eat  some  buns, 
And  tal  dis  bar  landlord,  "  Gude-by,  Yack, 
Ay  skol  paying  my  bill  ven  ay  com  back ! " 
Den  he  ride  so  fast  that  sune  he  say, 
"  Val,  now  ay  ban  saxteen  miles  avay ! " 

Dese  cannons  ban  roaring  gude  and  loud, — 
It  ban  tough  game  for  dis  Yankee  crowd; 
And  Lieut.  Olson,  he  tal  his  pal, 
"'Ay  tank  ve  ban  due  to  run  lak  hal!" 
So  dey  start  to  run,  or  else  retreat, — 
Dis  ban  noder  name  for  gude  cold  feet; 
And  dey  run  so  fast  sum  dey  can  go, 
Lak  Russians  luring  dese  Yaps,  yu  know. 
38 


HIS    HISTORICAL    TALES 

"  Yee  whiz ! "  say  Sheridan.  "  Yump,  old  hoss ! 
Ay  tenk  my  soldiers  get  double  cross, 
Ay  s'pose  yure  hoofs  getting  purty  sore, 
But  ve  only  got  'bout  sax  miles  more!" 

Val,  Yeneral  Sheridan  meet  his  men, 
And  he  say:  "It's  now  yust  half -past  ten. 
Ay  hope  ay  skol  never  go  to  heaven 
Ef  dese  Rebel  Svedes  ant  licked  by  eleven. 
Yust  turn  round  now  in  yure  track! 
Come  on,  yu  fallers!    Ve're  going  back!" 
And  yu  bet  yure  life  dey  vent  back,  tu, 
And  put  gude  crimp  in  dis  Rebel  crew. 
But  soldiers  ban  careless  sons  of  guns, 
And  the  yeneral  never  settled  for  buns. 


THE   NORSK  NIGHTINGALE 
HIS   POETICAL   TRANSLATIONS 


SPEAK   GENTLY 

Speak  yentle;  it  ban  better  far 

To  rule  by  love  dan  fear  ; 
Ef  yu  speak  rough,  yu  stand  nice  chance 

To  get  gude  smash  on  ear. 

Speak  yentle  to  the  coal-man — he 

Ban  easy  to  get  mad; 
Ef  yu  ant  getting  any  coal, 

By  yinger,  dat  ban  bad! 

Speak  yentle  to  the  alderman, 

Ven  he  ban  feeling  blue, 
And  maybe,  ven  he  turn  gude  trick, 

He  skol  whack  op  vith  yu. 

Speak  yentle  to  yure  lady  frends, 

And  give  gude  lots  of  bunk, 
Ef  yu  skol  lak  to  getting  chance 

To  put  yure  clothes  in  trunk. 

Speak  yentle  to  Yim  Yeffries,  tu, — 
Ay  tenk  dis  ban  gude  hunch; 

Den  yu  ant  need  to  put  yure  face 
On  Maester  Yeffries'  punch! 

Speak  yentle  everyvere  yu  go, 

And  people  skol  forget 
That  yu  ban  vatching  for  gude  chance 

Tu  vinning  every  bet! 
43 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

THE   BAREFOOT   BOY 

Blessings  on  yu,  little  man! 
Barefoot  boy,  ay  tenk  yu  can 
Getting  all  yu  lak,  by  yee! 
Yu  ban  gude  enuff  for  me. 
Yu  ant  got  so  many  clo'es, 
Dar  ban  freckles  on  yure  nose, 
And  ay  guess  yu're  purty  tuff, 
'Cause  yu  ask  for  chew  of  snuff. 
But,  by  yinks,  ay  lak  yure  face, 
Yu  can  passing  any  place. 

Barefoot  boy,  ef  ay  could  du 
Yenuine  po'try  lak  the  kind 

Maester  Vittier  wrote  for  yu, 
Ay  vould  write;  but  never  mind, 

Ay  can  tal  yu  vat  ay  know, 

Even  ef  dese  vords  ant  flow 

Half  so  slick  sum  poet's  song. 

Anyhow,  ay  don't  mean  wrong. 

Ven  ay  see  yu,  little  kid, 

Ay  skol  taking  off  my  lid. 

Oder  little  boys  ay  see 

Ant  look  half  so  gude  to  me. 

Some  of  dem  ban  rich  men's  boys, 
Who  ban  having  planty  toys, 
44 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 

Vearing  nicest  clo'es  in  town, 
Lak  dis  little  Buster  Brown. 
Don't  yu  care !  Ven  dey  grow  up,, 

And  ban  shining  at  pink  tea, 
Drenking  tea  from  china  cup, 

Yu  skol  give  dem  loud  tee-hee- 
Yu  skol  laugh  at  dis  har  mob 
Ven  dey  come  to  yu  for  yob. 
Barefoot  boy,  yu  ant  got  cent; 

But  ay  tal  yu  dis,  some  day 
Yu  got  chance  for  president 

Ef  dese  woters  com  yure  vay. 
Yust  keep  vistling  all  day  long, 
Yust  keep  senging  little  song, 
And  ef  yu  skol  alvays  love 
Some  one  who  ban  op  above, 
Who  ban  making  day  and  night* 
He  skol  fix  yu  out  all  right. 


45 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

FATHER   WILLIAM 

"  Yu  ban  old,  Fader  Olaf,"  a  young  geezer 
say,  "yure  hair  it  ban  whiter  sum  snow; 

Ay  lak  yu  to  tal  me  how  yu  keep  so  young. 
By  Yudas !  Ay  ant  hardly  know." 

"  Ven  ay  ban  a  young  kid,"  Fader  Olaf  he 
say,  "ay  never  hang  out  in  saloon; 

Ay  never  ban  smoking  dese  bar  cigarettes,  or 
sitting  on  sofa  and  spoon ! " 

"  Yu  ban  slim,  Fader  Olaf,"  the  young  faller 
say:  "old  fallers  ban  mostly  dam  fat. 

Yu  measure  'bout  tventy-sax  inches  round 
vaist,  vat  for  ban  the  reason  of  dat  ?  " 

"In  the  days  of  my  youth,"  Fader  Olaf 
reply,  "  ay  ant  drenk  no  lager  from  cup ; 

Ay  let  all  my  frends  fight  dis  bourbon  and 
rye,  and  alvays  pass  breakfast  f ude  up ! " 

"  Fader  Olaf,  yure  eyes  ban  so  bright  sum  a 
star,  yu  ant  vear  no  glasses  at  all; 

Ay  lak  yu  to    tal  me  gude  reason  for  dis; 

ay  hope  yu  don't  give  me  no  stall." 

46 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 

"All  the  days  of  my  life,"  Fader  Olaf  den 
say,  "ay  never  ban  going  to  shows, 

And  straining  my  eyes  vatching  dese  chorus 
girls  vich  ant  vearing  wery  much  clo'es ! " 

Den  young  f aller  say,  "  Fader  Olaf,  ay  tenk 
yu  ban  full  of  yinger,  old  pal; 

But  yu  had  to  be  missing  gude  times  all  yure 
life,  so  ay  skol  keep  on  raising  hal ! " 


4? 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

ABOU   SWEN   ANSON 

Abou  Swen  Anson  (he  ban  yolly  dog) 
Ban  asleep  von  night  so  sound  lak  log, 
Ven  all  at  vonce  he  tenk  it  sure  ban  day. 
"Ay  skol  vake  op  now,"  Maester  Anson  say. 
But,  ven  he  vake,  it  ant  ban  day  at  all, 
He  see  a  gude  big  light  right  close  to  vail, 
And  dar  ban  anyel  faller  vith  stub  pen. 
"  Gude  morning,  maester  anyel  man, "  say 

Swen. 

"  Ay  s'pose,"  he  tal  the  anyel,  "  yu  ban  har 
To  pay  me  wisit.     Skol  yu  have  cigar  ?" 
The  anyel  shake  his  head,  and  Abou  Swen 
Ask  him : "  Val,  Maester,  vy  yu  com  har  den  ? 
Vat  skol  yu  write  in  dis  har  book  of  gold  ?  " 
The  anyel  say,  "All  fallers,  young  and  old, 
Who  go  to  church  and  prayer-meeting,  tu; 
But  ay  ant  got  a  place  in  har  for  yu." 
"  Ay  s'pose,"  say  Abou,  "  yu  got  noder  book 
For  common  lumberyacks  vich  never  took 
Flyer  at  church  or  dis  har  Sunday-school, 
But  yust  try  hard  to  keeping  Golden  Rule. 
Ef  yu  got  dis  book,  Maester,  put  me  in!" 
Den  anyel  look  at  Abou,  and  he  grin. 
"Abou,"  he  say,  "shak  hands.  Yu  talk  qvite  free, 
But,yiminy  Christmas,  yu  look  gude  to  me! " 
48 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 


MAUD   MULLER 

Maude  Muller,  on  nice  summer  day, 
Raked  in  meadows  sveet  vith  hay. 

Her  eyes  ban  sharp  lak  gude  sharp  knife; 
She  ban  nice  girl,  ay  bet  yure  life. 

Before  she  ban  dar  wery  long, 
She  start  to  senging  little  song. 

The  Yudge  come  riding  down  big  hill 
In  nice  red  yumping  ottomobill. 

Maude  say,  "  Hello,  Yudge, — how  ban  yu  ?  " 
The  Yudge  say,  "  Maudie,  how  y'  du  ?" 

He  say:  "Skol  yu  tak  little  ride? 
Ef  yu  skol  lak  to,  yump  inside." 

So  Maude  and  Yudge  ride  'bout  sax  miles, 
And  Yudge  skol  bask  in  Maude's  sveet  smiles. 

The  Yudge  say,  "  Skol  yu  be  my  pal  ?  " 
Den  ottomobill  bust  all  to  hal. 

Den  Maude  ban  valking  'bout  half  vay 
Back  to  meadows  sveet  vith  hay. 
49 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

"  Ay  luv  yu  still,  dear/'  say  the  Yudge ; 
But  Maude  she  only  say,  "O  fudge!" 

Of  all  sad  vords  dat  men  skol  talk, 

The  saddest  ban,  "Valk,  yu  sucker,  valk!" 


50 


HIS  POETICAL  TRANSLATIONS 

LUCY  GRAY 

Ay  s'pose  yu  know  'bout  Lucy  Gray 

Who  used  to  play  on  moor, 
And  having  qvite  gude  time  all  day 

Beside  her  fader's  door. 

Dis  Maester  Vordsvorth  write  it  down, 

Gude  many  years  ago, 
How  Lucy  start  to  valk  to  town 

In  gude  big  drifts  of  snow. 

"  Lucy,"  her  fader  say,  "  yust  tak 

Dis  lantern  from  the  shelf." 
Say  Lucy,  "  Ay  have  kick  to  mak; 

Vy  don't  yu  go  yureself  ?" 

But  Lucy's  dad  ant  stand  no  talk, 

And  say,  "  Yu  have  to  go!" 
So  Lucy  Gray  tak  little  valk 

To  town  in  dis  har  snow. 

Miss  Lucy  ant  come  back  dat  night, 
And  ant  come  back  next  day; 

And  den  her  parents  get  gude  fright. 
"Our  kid  ban  lost!"  dey  say. 
51 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

Dey  look  for  tracks  vich  Lucy  mak, 
And  find  some  tracks  dat  go 

Up  to  a  bridge  on  little  lake, 
And  den  ban  lost  in  snow. 

And  so  dey  tenk  Miss  Gray  ban  lost, 

And  feeling  purty  bum. 
The  funeral  saxty  dollars  cost, 

And  all  the  neighbors  com. 

But  Lucy  ant  ban  lost  at  all. 

She  met  a  travelling  man. 
He  ban  a  bird.     His  name  ban  Hall, 

And  off  for  town  dey  ran. 

And  Maester  Hall  and  Lucy  Gray 

Ban  married  in  St.  Yo, 
And  dey  ban  keeping  house  to-day 

In  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 

STEALING   A   RIDE 

Yumping  over  crossings, 

Bumping  over  svitches, 
Till  ay  tenk  dis  enyine 

Going  to  fall  in  ditches; 
Hiding  vith  some  cattle, 

Ay  tenk  'bout  saxty-eight; 
Yiminy!    Dis  ban  yolly, — 

Stealing  ride  on  freight 

Ay  ban  yust  tru  treshing 

Op  in  Nort  Dakota; 
Now  ay  guess  ay'm  going 

Back  to  old  Mansota. 
Now  dis  train  ban  stopping, 

'Bout  sax  hours  to  vait; 
Yiminy!    Dis  ban  yolly, — 

Stealing  ride  on  freight. 

Ay  skol  stretch  a  little 

Yust  to  tak  a  sleep; 
Den  my  head  bump  into 

Gude  big  fader  sheep. 
Yee!     His  head  ban  harder 

Sum  a  china  plate; 
Dis  ban  yolly  doings, — 

Stealing  ride  on  freight. 
53 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

Yumping  over  crossings, 

Bumping  over  svitches, 
Till  my  side  ban  getting 

Saxty-seven  stitches. 
Ay  hear  brakeman  faller 

Say,  "Yust  ten  hours  late!" 
It  ban  hal,  ay  tal  yu, 

Stealing  ride  on  freight. 


54 


The  Harvest  Hand 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 

"CURFEW   SHALL  NOT  RING 
TO-NIGHT" 

England's  sun  ban  slowly  setting  on  big  hill- 
tops far  avay; 

Dis  bar  sun  ban  tired  of  standing,  so  it  lak 
to  set,  yu  say; 

And  yust  ven  dis  sun  ban  setting,  it  shine 
hard  on  Yosephine; 

She  ban  talking  to  the  sexton,  and  ban  feel- 
ing purty  mean. 

"  Now,"  she  tal  him,  "  yust  be  careful,  .  .  . 
ay  skol  fix  it  op  all  right; 

Yust  one  teng  ay  lak  to  tal  yu,  Curfew  skol 
not  reng  to-night ! " 

Val,  the  sun  yust  keep  on  setting,  and  the  sex- 
ton start  for  bell. 

"Vait  a  minute!"  Yosie  tal  him;  sexton 
answer,  "  Vat  to  'ell  ?  " 

"Val,"  she  say,  "ay  having  sveetheart  who 
ban  over  har  in  yail, 

Ay  ban  vorking  hard  for  money,  nuff  so  ay 
can  pay  his  bail; 

But  it  ant  no  use  to  du  it,  and  dis  har  old 
yudge  skol  write 

That  he  dies  ven  bell  start  going.     Curfew 
skol  not  reng  to-night!" 
55 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

Den,  yu  say,  dis  maester  sexton,  he  can't 

hearing  Yosephine; 
He  ban  vork  in  boiler  factory  ven  he  ban 

about  saxteen, 
And  it  mak  him  deaf  lak  blazes.    So  he 

go  and  grabbing  rope; 
But  Miss  Yosephine  ant  qvitter,  she  ant 

losing  any  hope. 
No,  sir!  she  run  op  in  bell  tower,  yust  so 

fast  sum  she  can  run, 
And  she  tak  gude  hold  on  bell  tongue,  and 

hang  on  lak  son  of  a  gun. 

Maester  sexton,  he  keep  renging,  but  dis  bell 
ant  reng,  yu  say; 

For  Miss  Yosephine  ban  op  dar;  she  ant 
ban  no  country  yay. 

Ay  yust  bet  yu  she  get  groggy,  for  her  yob 
ban  purty  tough; 

But  the  bell  don't  "dingle  dangle,"  it  ant 
even  making  bluff. 

"  Val,  by  yinger!"  say  the  sexton,  "dis  bar 
rope  ban  awful  tight." 

Yosephine  look  down,  and  tal  him,  "  Cur- 
few skol  not  reng  to-night!" 


56 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 

Purty  soon  it  ban  all  over.     Sexton,  he  ban 

start  for  town, 
And  Miss  Yosie  rest  a  minute,  den  ay  s'pose 

she  coming  down. 
Anyhow,  she  go  next  morning  for  gude  talk 

vith  some  poleece, 
And  she  yolly  Maester  Cromwell — he  ban 

Yustice  of  the  Peace. 
"  Gude  for  yu, "  say  Maester  Cromwell,  "  ay 

-   skol  let  him  live,  all  right: 
Yust   because  yu  fule  dis   sexton — curfew 

skol  not  reng  to-night ! " 


57 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

A    PSALM    OF    LIFE 

Tal  me  not,  yu  knocking  fallers, 

Life  ban  only  empty  dream; 
Dar  ban  planty  fun,  ay  tal  yu, 

Ef  yu  try  Yohn  Yohnson's  scheme. 
Yohn  ban  yust  a  section  foreman, 

Vorking  hard  vay  up  on  Soo; 
He  ban  yust  so  glad  in  morning 

As  ven  all  his  vork  ban  tru. 

"Vork,"  say  Yohn, "  ban  vat  yu  mak  it. 

Ef  yu  tenk  yure  vork  ban  hard, 
Yu  skol  having  planty  headaches, — 

Yes,  yu  bet  yure  life,  old  pard; 
But  ay  alvays  yerk  my  coat  off, 

Grab  my  shovel  and  my  pick, 
And  dis  yob  ant  seem  lak  hard  von 

Ef  ay  du  it  purty  qvick." 

Yohn  ban  foreman  over  fallers. 

He  ant  have  to  vork,  yu  see ; 
But,  yu  bet,  he  ant  no  loafer, 

And  he  yust  digs  in,  by  yee! 
"  Listen,  Olaf ,"  he  skol  tal  me, 

"  Making  living  ant  no  trick, 
And  the  hardest  yob  ban  easy 

Ef  yu  only  du  it  qvick ! " 
58 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 

Let  us  den  be  op  and  jumping, 

Always  glad  to  plow  tru  drift ; 
Ven  our  vork  ban  done,  den  let  us- 

Give  some  oder  faller  lift. 
Den,  ay  bet  yu,  old  Saint  Peter, 

He  skol  tenk  ve're  purty  slick; 
Ve  can  go  tru  gates,  ay  bet  yu, 

Ef  ve  only  du  it  qvick!" 


59 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

ANNIE  LAURIE 

Minneapolis  ban  qvite  bonny 

Ven  early  fall  the  dew; 
It  ban  dar  dat  ay  ask  Steena 

To  mak  her  promise  true, — 
To  mak  her  promise  true; 

But  she  yust  pass  me  by; 
And  she  tal  me,  "  Maester  Olaf , 

Yu  skol  pleese  lay  down  and  die." 

Her  brow  ban  yust  lak  snowdrift 

Or  Apple  Blossom  flour; 
And  she  smile  lak  anyel  fallers, 

Ay  tenk  of  her  each  hour, — 
Ay  tenk  of  her  each  hour, 

And  feel  lak  ay  can  cry, 
Ven  she  tal  me,  "  Maester  Olaf, 

Yu  skol  pleese  lay  down  and  die." 

Like  dew  on  sidevalk  falling, 

She  du  me  gude,  ay  guess. 
Ay  tal  her,  "  Pleese,  Miss  Steena, 

Vy  don't  yu  answer  yes  ? — 
Vy  don't  yu  answer  yes  ?  " 

But  she  yust  venk  her  eye, 
And  she  tal  me,  "  Maester  Olaf, 

Yu  skol  pleese  lay  down  and  die." 
60 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 

THE   CHARGE    OF   THE   LIGHT 
BRIGADE 

Yoyfully,  yoyfully, 
Yoyfully  onvard, 
In  dis  bar  walley  of  death 
Rode  the  sax  hundred! 
It  ban  a  cinch,  ay  tenk, 

Some  geezer  blundered. 
"Hustle,  yu  Light  Brigade! 
Yump!"  Maester  Olson  said; 
Den  in  the  walley  of  death 

Go  the  sax  hundred. 

Cannon  on  right  of  dem, 
Cannon  on  left  of  dem, 
Cannon  on  top  of  dem, 

Wolleyed  and  t'undered; 
Smashed  vith  dis  shot  and  shal, 
Dey  ant  do  wery  val; 
Most  of  dem  ketching  hal, — 

Nearly  sax  hundred! 

Yes,  all  dem  sabres  bare 
Flash  purty  gude  in  air; 
Each  faller  feel  his  hair 
Standing.     No  vonder! 
61 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

Yudas !     It  ant  ban  yob 
For  any  coward  slob, 
Fighting  dis  Russian  mob. 
Ay  tenk  ay  vudn't  stand 
Yeneral's  blunder. 

Cannon  on  right  of  dem, 
Cannon  on  top  of  dem, 
Cannon  behind  dem,  tu, 

Wolleyed  and  t'undered. 
Finally  say  Captain  Brenk, 
"  Ve  got  enuff ,  ay  tenk, 
Let's  go  and  getting  drenk." 
'Bout  tventy-sax  com  back 

Out  of  sax  hundred. 

Ven  skol  deir  glory  fade  ? 

It  ban  gude  charge  dey  made, 

Every  von  vondered. 
Every  von  feeling  blue, 
'Cause  dey  ban  brave  old  crew, 
Yolly  gude  fallers,  tu, 

Dis  har  sax  hundred! 


HIS    POETICAL    TRANSLATIONS 

EXCELSIOR       - 

The  shades  of  night  ban  falling  fast, 
Ven  tru  Dakota  willage  passed 
Young  f  aller  who  skol  cany  flag 
And  yell,  so  loud  sum  he  can  brag, 
"Excelsior!" 

Ay  ant  know  yust  vat  he  skol  mean, 
But  yust  lak  dis  har  talk  machine 
He  keep  on  saying,  night  and  day 
(Ay  s'pose  to  passing  time  avay), 
"Excelsior!" 

Swen  Swenson  tal  me  dis  har  guy 
Ban  crazy;  den  he  tal  me  why. 
He  say  dis  faller  once  ban  gay 
And  happy;  den  he  never  say 
"Excelsior!" 

But  after  while,  say  Sven,  he  meet 
A  chorus  girl  who  look  quite  sveet, 
And  marry  her,  and  den  find  out 
Vat  making  her  so  plump  and  stout — 
"Excelsior!" 

So  now  poor- faller  have  to  go, 
Lak  lunatic,  tru  ice  and  snow. 
He  tenk  about  his  old  girl  May, 
And  dis  ban  all  vich  he  can  say — 
"Excelsior!" 
63 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

'       MORTALITY 

Vat  for  should  dis  spirit  of  mortal  ban  proud  ? 
Man  valk  round  a  minute,  and  talk  purty 

loud; 
Den   doctor   ban   coming,    and   say,    "Ay 

can't  save." 
And  man  have  to  tak  running  yump  into 

grave. 

To-day  dis  har  faller  ban  svelling  around, 
His  head  ban  so  light  dat  his  feet  ant  touch 

ground. 

To-morrow  he  light  vith  his  face  in  the  sand, 
And  hustle  lak  hal  to  get  gude  helping  hand. 

Ay  see  lots  of  f allers  who  tenk  dey  ban  vise, 
Yu  see  dem  yureself  ef  yu  open  yure  eyes; 
Dey  tal  'bout  the  gold  dey  skol  making  some 

day, 
And  yump  ven  the  vash-voman  com  for  her 

pay. 

Ay  tal  yu,  dear  frend,  purty  sune  ve  ban 

dead, 
So  ay    tenk    ve    ban    suckers    to    getting 

s veiled  head. 

It  ant  wery  far  from  Prince  Albert  to  shroud; 

Vat  for  should  dis  spirit  of  mortal  ban  proud  ? 

64 


HIS  POETICAL  TRANSLATIONS 

THE  DAY  IS  DONE 

The  day  ban  done,  and  darkness 

Falling  from  vengs  of  night, 
Lak  fedder  flying  from  raster, 

Ven  he  ban  having  fight. 
Ay  see  the  lights  of  willage 

Shining  tru  rain  and  mist, 
And  ay  skol  feel  dam  sleepy, 

Lak  fallers  playing  whist. 

Come,  read  tu  me  some  werses, 

Ay  ant  care  vat  yu  read, 
Yust  so  it  ant  'bout  trouble 

Or  hearts  vich  ache  and  bleed. 
Ay  lak  dese  har  nice  yingles 

'Bout  sun  and  trees  and  grass; 
But,  ven  it  com  to  heartache, 

Yerusalem!  ay  skol  pass! 

Read  from  some  humble  geezer, 

Whose  songs  ban  sveet  to  hear — 
Who  making,  from  his  poetry, 

'Bout  saxteen  cents  a  year. 
Ay  lak  to  hear  his  yingles, 

Ay  tell  yu,  dey  ban  fine; 
Dis  har  ban  vy  ay  lak  dem — 

Dey  ban  so  much  lak  mine. 
65 


THE    NORSK    NIGHTINGALE 

Such  songs  have  gude,  nice  sound — 

Dey  making  sorrow  fly; 
Dey  coming  lak  glass  of  seltzer 

Vich  follows  drenk  of  rye. 
And  night  skol  be  full  of  music, 

And  tengs  ve  lak  to  forget 
Skol  fold  op  tents  lak  yipsies, 

And  sneaking  avay,  yu  bet! 


66 


We  invite  your  attention 
to  a  selected  list  of  our 
publications,  to  be  found 
on  the  following  pages 


By    GELETT    BURGESS 

VIVETTE 
Or,  The  Memoirs  of  the  Romance  Association: 

Setting  forth  the  diverting  Adventures  of  one  Richard  Red- 
forth  in  the  very  pleasant  City  of  Millamours  ;  how  he  took 
Service  in  the  Association  ;  how  he  wooed  the  gay  Vivette  ; 
how  they  sped  their  Honeymoon  and  played  the  Town ;  how 
they  spread  a  mad  Banquet ;  of  them  that  came  thereto,  and 
the  Tales  they  told ;  of  the  Exploits  of  the  principal  Char- 
acters, and  especially  of  the  Disappearance  of  Vivette. 

"  Mr.  Burgess  displays  infinite  zest  and  exhaustless  re- 
sources of  invention,  and  hurries  his  readers  breathlessly 
along  from  one  astonishing  and  audacious  situation  to  an- 
other, till  the  book  is  flung  down  at  finis  with  a  chuckle  of 
appreciative  laughter." —  The  Literary  News. 
i6mo,  cloth,  with  maps  and  ornaments  by  the  author,  $1.25. 

cA  GAGE  OF  YOUTH 

Lyrics  from  the  Lark  and  Other  Poems 
"The  wide  range  of  Mr.  Burgess's  versatility,  from  the 
ridiculous  to  the  sincerest  poetry,  has  never  been  so  well  il- 
lustrated as  by  this  little  volume.     As  a  humorist  he  is  de- 
lightful, but  this  collection  also  proves  that  he  may  be  taken 
seriously  and  still  win  praise." 
i6mo,  antique  leather,  blind  tooled,  net  $1.00,  by  post  £1.05. 

A  New  Volume  of  Parlor  flays 

A    BUNCH    OF    ROSES 

AND   OTHER  PARLOR   PLAYS 

By  Mrs.  M.  E.  M.  DAVIS 

A  remarkably  clever  collection  of  little  comedies  full  of 
vigor  and  bright  humor,  suitable  for  parlor  or  lawn  pro- 
duction, and  requiring  no  difficult  properties  or  costumes. 
The  volume  includes  all  of  Mrs.  Davis's  plays  published  in 
the  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

I2mo,  cloth,  decorative,  $1.00  net,  by  post  $1.10. 

SMALL,     MAYNARD     &    COMPANY 
Publishers,     Boston 


By  Holman  F.  Day 

UP  IN  MAINE.     Stories  of  Yankee  Life  told  in  Verse. 

Few  books  of  verse  have  won  popular  favor  so  quickly 
as  this  volume,  which  is  already  in  its  twelfth  thousand. 
It  is  a  rare  combination  of  wit,  humor,  sense,  and  homely 
pathos. 

"Reading  the  book,  one  feels  as  though  he  had  Maine  in  the  phono- 
graph."— The  New  York  Sun. 

"James  Russell  Lowell  would  have  welcomed  this  delicioas  adjunct 
to  '  The  Biglow  Papers.'  "—  The  Outlook. 

"  So  fresh,  so  vigorous,  and  so  full  of  manly  feeling  that  they  sweep  away 
all  criticism."—  The  Nation. 

1 2mo, cloth,  decorative,  six  illustrations,  net$i.oo,  by  postal.  10 

PINE    TREE    BALLADS.     Rhymed    Stories    of   Un- 

planed  Human  Natur'  up  in  Maine. 
Of  Mr.  Day's  second  book,  already  in  its  fifth  thousand,  the 

Chicago  Record-Herald  says :  — 

"  It  is  impossible  to  think  of  any  person  or  class  of  people  in  America 
that  these  epical  lyrics,  these  laughter-fetching,  tear-provoking  ballads  will 
fail  to  please." 

I2mo,  cloth,  decorative,  illustrated. 
Net  $1.00,  by  post  $i.io. 

KIN  O'  KTAADN.  Verse  Stories  of  the  Plain  Folk  who 
are  Keeping  Bright  the  Old  Home  Fires  up  in  Maine. 
Although  called  "  Verse  Stories,"  Mr.  Day's  new  volume  is 
not  merely  a  book  of  poetry.  The  half -hundred  new  poems, 
grouped  in  appropriate  sections,  are  woven  together  into  a 
consistent  and  harmonious  unity  by  a  thread  of  prose  comment 
and  chat,  thus  giving  such  a  picture  of  the  lights  and  shadows 
of  homely  Yankee  life  as  has  never  before  been  printed.  The 
book  is  unique  in  its  conception  and  shows  evidence  of  marked 
growth  in  the  power  of  its  author,  which  places  him  high  up 
among  the  best  writers  of  New  England. 

I2mo,  cloth,  decorative,  with  frontispiece  portrait,  and 

with  six  illustrative  decorations  by  Amy  Rand. 

Net  $1.00,  by  post  $1.10. 

NOTE.-~  The  above  three  volumes  can  be  supplied  in  -uniform  binding, 
boxed  in  sets.    Price  per  set,  net  $3.00,  by  post  $3.25. 


SMALL,       MAYNARD       &      COMPANY 
Publishers,    Boston 


STANDARD  AMERICAN  POETRY 


By  Richard  Hovey 

ALONG  THE  TRAIL.    A  Book  of  Lyrics      .        .        £1.50 

"He  is  a  true  and  perhaps  a  great  poet." — The  Bookman. 

LAUNCELOT    AND    GUENEVERE.     A  poem  in  Dramas. 

4  vols.,  i6mo,  half  vellum,  gold  decoration. 
I.     The  Quest  of  Merlin 


II.  The  Marriage  of  Guenevere 

III.  The  Birth  of  Galahad       . 

IV.  Taliesin 

V.  The  Holy  Graal 


1.50 
1.50 

1. 00 

1.50 


"Nothing  since  Swinburne's  'Atalanta  in  Calydon'  surpasses 
[these  dramas]  in  virility  and  classic  clearness  and  perfection 
of  thought." — JOEL  BENTON. 

By  Bliss  Carman 

LOW  TIDE  ON  GRAND  PRE  and  BALLADS  OF 

LOST  HAVEN  .  .  Net,  #1.50;  by  mail,  $1. 60 

BY  THE  AURELIAN  WALL  and  other 

Elegies 1.25 

A  WINTER  HOLIDAY 75 

"Mr.  Carman  is  a  poet  in  every  fibre  of  his  mortal  frame, 
with  a  Keats-like  sensitiveness  to  beauty." — Boston  Tran- 
script. 

By  John  B.  Tabb 

POEMS Ji.oo 

LYRICS i.oo 

CHILD  VERSE i.oo 

THE  ROSARY  IN  RHYME  Net,  $2.50 ;  by  post,  $2.60 

QUIPS  AND  QUIDDITS:  Ques  for  the  Qurious    .          1.50 

"Sidney  Lanier  and  Father  Tabb  are,  so  far,  the  most 
poetical  poets  who  have  chanced  to  be  American." — Illus- 
trated London  News. 


SMALL,  MAYNARD  &  COMPANY,  BOSTON 


A  NEW  HOLIDAY  EDITION 

OF  THE  THREE    SERIES  OF 

SONGS  from  VACABONDIA 

By  BLISS  CARMAN  and  RICHARD  HOVEY 
I.    SONGS  FROM   VAGABONDIA 
II.    MORE    SONGS   FROM  VAGABONDIA 
III.    LAST   SONGS   FROM   VAGABONDIA 


This  edition  is  printed  on  a  fine  English  paper,  with  deco- 
rative end-papers  by  Tom  B.  Meteyard,  and  is  bound  in  special 
rough-finished  olive  brown  calfskin,  with  gilt  top  and  un- 
trimmed  edges,  and  with  side  and  back  stamps  in  gold.  It  is 
sold  only  in  boxed  sets  of  three  volumes. 

Price,  $3.00  net  per  set,  by  post  $3.10. 

The  authors  of  the  "Songs  from  Vagabondia"  have  an  unmistakable 
right  to  the  name  of  poet.  These  little  snatches  have  the  spirit  of  a  gypsy 
Omar  Khayyam.  .  .  .  You  have  the  whole  spirit  in  such  an  unforgettable 
little  lyric  as  "  In  the  House  of  Idiedaily."—  Francis  Thompson. 

NOTE. —  The  regular  edition  of  these  books,  bound  in  paper 
boards,  is  still  furnished  singly  or  in  sets  at  $1.00  per  volume. 


INDIAN   STORY  AND   SONG 
FROM  NORTH  AMERICA 

By  ALICE  C.  FLETCHER 

Holder  of  the  Thaw  Fellowship,  Peabody  Miiseunt^ 
Harvard  University 

This  book  presents  the  music  and  native  words  of  thirty 
Indian  songs,  from  a  variety  of  tribes,  together  with  the  stories 
of  their  origin  and  meaning.  The  principles  underlying  Indian 
music  are  also  given,  together  with  valuable  observations  on 
this  hitherto  neglected  subject.  Miss  Fletcher's  reputation  in 
Indian  ethnology  renders  comment  upon  her  qualifications 
for  this  subject  entirely  unnecessary. 

I2mo,  cloth,  decorative,  $1.25. 

SMALL,    MAYNARD     &    COMPANY 
Publishers,     Boston 


NEW    BOOKS   FOR.  THE  HOLIDAYS 

INTIMATIONS  OF  IMMORTALITY. 

Compiled  by  HELEN  P.  PATTEN 

Whether  life  is  to  follow  death  is  a  question  of  perennial 
interest,  and  speculation  and  affirmation  upon  this  un- 
solved problem  have  been  rife  since  the  dawn  of  human 
consciousness.  It  is  natural,  therefore,  that  an  immense 
body  of  literature  should  have  grown  up  around  it.  From 
this  great  mass  of  material  the  editor  of  this  volume  has 
culled  out  the  brief  but  salient  comments  of  the  great 
and  learned  of  olden  and  modern  times  who  have  ex- 
pressed themselves  on  this  subject.  The  result  is  a  com- 
pilation of  remarkable  diversity  and  value.  The  contents 
are  admirably  divided  into  sections,  such  as  "The  Testi- 
mony of  the  Ancients,"  "  From  the  Bibles  of  Humanity," 
"The  Speculations  of  Philosophy,"  "The  Voice  of  the 
Church,"  "The  Vision  of  the  Poet." 

i2mo,  paper  boards  and  vellum  back,  $1.50  net;  by  post,  $1.63. 


THE  ROSARY  IN  RHYME.    By  JOHN  B.  TABB. 

A  cycle  of  poems  with  the  perfection  of  delicate  flowers 
and  full  of  a  poetic  ecstasy  and  deep  religjous  fervor 
which  will  carry  them  to  all  Christian  hearts,  irrespective 
of  creed.  With  fifteen  decorative  drawings  and  initials  by 
T.  B.  Meteyard. 

Edition  limited  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  copies  on  hand- 
made paper  Square  i6mo,  parchment  boards.  Net, 
#2.50;  by  post,  $2.60. 


ABOUT  MY  BOOKS.    A  Reader's  Record. 
Arranged  by  GRACE  E.  ENSEY. 

A  dainty  volume,  affording  a  convenient  record  for  (I.) 
Books  to  be  read,  (II.)  Books  read,  (III.)  Books  borrowed, 
(IV.)  Books  lent,  (V.)  Magazine  articles,  (VI.)  Quota- 
tions. 

With  decorative  borders  by  Marion  L.  Peabody  and  with 
apt  quotations  for  each  ;  ~ge.  Cloth,  net,  $1.00 ;  by  post, 
$1.10.  Full  flexible  leather,  net,  $2.00 ;  by  post,  $2.10. 

SMALL,  MAYNARD  &  COMPANY,  BOSTON 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

^,    Return,, to  desk  from  which  borrowed. 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


/UN   & 

UN   9     me 
27Dec'49HjA 


SEP  2  5  1 


5Mar'57H/ 
RECD  LD 

FEB281951 

INTER-LIBRARY 
LOAN 

MAY  2     197 

IN 


21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 


M23 1 42 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


